Red Bulls could be in a bind at forward with Luke Rodgers in limbo, Juan Agudelo away

View full sizeAristide Economopoulos/The Star-LedgerThe Red Bulls' Juan Agudelo will soon join the U.S. Under-23 team for CONCACAF Olympic qualifying

Today is the day the Red Bulls find out if forward Luke Rodgers, an integral part of the team’s success last season, will have his U.S. visa renewed and be able to return this season.

"If it’s positive, he will get the visa quite quick. He could come the beginning of next week," Red Bulls coach Hans Backe said Wednesday following training at Montclair State University. "We will have some (salary cap) money left if it’s a no. We know that (Juan) Agudelo will be away a lot.

"He leaves (Tuesday) for another 2½, three weeks. If it’s a no, we’ll go for (another) guy. If yes, he should be able to play quite quick. He’s done a lot of fitness training, and with his mentality we could put him right into play."

Rodgers, who has been training with Aston Villa in England during the process, will likely miss the season opener Sunday against FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas. Fortunately for the Red Bulls, Agudelo is available for the game before he joins the U.S. Under-23 team for CONCACAF Olympic qualifying.

"With the way CONCACAF is right now every single team is really good and every game will be tough," Agudelo said, "but I’ve never been so excited about a team like that. We’re really going to show some pretty football."

While that’s nice to hear, it doesn’t do the Red Bulls much good, except that the 19-year-old Agudelo will be playing regularly and gaining experience.

But if he misses a good portion of the year while qualifying, then playing in the Olympics, and Rodgers’ visa isn’t approved, the team will be thin up front behind Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper.

"Kenny has surprised me a little bit being a good target, getting a hold of the ball as a high striker," Backe said. "He’s quite versatile around the channels. Technically, he’s good enough that they can use each other’s combinations up front.

"(Cooper) has decent pace and he can also be the guy who can stretch center backs. With his work rate — I don’t think anyone works like Luke — but Kenny is a really hard worker.

"It’s a long season. You need at least four strikers. If Luke is a yes, we have enough, If it’s a no, and with Agudelo being away, we will probably have to find another striker."

Notes: Two starters will miss the opener. Defender Wilman Conde (calf) likely won’t be ready until the home opener March 25, and midfielder Rafa Marquez is suspended for the first two games of the season for inciting the brawl after the home playoff game against the Galaxy that ended the Red Bulls’ 2011 season.